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French President Emmanuel Macron Wins Reelection; Blinken and Austin Meet with Zelenskyy in Ukraine; Le Pen Concedes to Macron, Boasts About Gains; Austin: Ukraine Can Win with Right Equipment, Support; Russian State Media: Fire at Oil Depot in Bryansk Region. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired April 25, 2022 - 04:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[04:00:00]

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Christiane Amanpour here, live in Paris. And you are watching CNN's breaking news coverage of the results of the French presidential election here.

Now despite the lowest voter turnout in 20 years, President Emmanuel Macron has won another five-year term. 59 percent of the French voted for Mr. Macron, while 41 percent of voters cast their ballots for the far-right rival, Marine Le Pen. It's also been 20 years since the last time a French president was reelected, in fact. And now, leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Leaders and the Russian President Vladimir Putin have congratulated Mr. Macron on his victory.

Now, French leader admits that he has work to do, but he promised the next five years will not be a continuation of his first term. And he pledged to work for all of France. Here's what he said after the Victory was announced.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT: And I know that for a number of my compatriots, who chose the far-right today, the anger and the discord which brought them to vote for her project, also merits a response. It will also be my responsibility and the responsibility of those who surround me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: And he knows he has a tough, uphill battle to meet that promise to reunite this country. Some protesters last night were angry about the results and they turned out in Paris and Lyon and they set off fireworks -- sometimes police. Mr. Macron's supporters also rallied behind his election victory. And we'll have much more on the vote in just a few minutes.

But first, our other top story this hour has been the trip by the two top U.S. officials to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. That was on Sunday. Ukraine's government released this video of Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. They were greeted by Mr. Zelenskyy before they sat for their long meeting. And it's the highest level of U.S. officials to have visited Ukraine since Russian invasion began. They spoke a short time ago in Poland, after returning from their trip, and they pledge continued humanitarian, economic, and military support. They did all the standing in front of aid supplies that were bound for Ukraine. And indeed, Lloyd Austin, the Defense Secretary, pledge that they would help Ukraine, quote, when this fight. And Secretary Blinken added that they would do all they could to help Ukraine in this fight, to lay the possible groundwork for any diplomacy or negotiations should that take place. For more on all this, let's go to Isa Soares in Lviv, Ukraine.

ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Christiane. Let me bring our viewers up to date from what we heard from both secretaries in the last hour or so as a spoke across the border from where I am Lviv, Ukraine. They were in Poland. But it was from what both secretaries said a productive, as well as engaging meeting with President Zelenskyy. They met in Kyiv. That meeting that lasted about three hours or so, at the presidential palace.

And really if we talk about the top lines that coming out from that meeting from Secretary Blinken was that Ukraine is winning that war. Russia is losing it and that Russia's subjugating Ukrainian people and trying to take away its independence. Incredibly strong words coming from Secretary Blinken. The first -- the highest officials of course, to visit Kyiv from the United States. Secretary Blinken, also praising the civilians of Ukraine. Praising the Ukrainian soldiers for really standing up and for pushing back against Russian aggression. Have a listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: It's also true that Russia continues to try to brutalize parts of the country. And the death and destruction that we continue to see his horrific. But Ukrainians are standing up. They're standing strong. And they're doing that with the support that we have coordinated from our -- literally around the world.

LLOYD AUSTIN, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: They believe that we can win. We believe that they can win if they have the right equipment, the right support.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[04:05:03]

SOARES: And so, Defense Secretary also went on to say we want Putin, we want Russia, he said, to be weakened. Some really important words coming from Secretary Austin there. But Secretary Blinken also said something that stood out to me. He said that a sovereign Ukraine, Christiane, will be around much longer than President Putin will be on the scene. In terms of deliverables, which was after all what President Zelenskyy was hoping to get out of this meeting. Remember, he said on Saturday, I hope that my guests would not come empty- handed. To which really Secretary Blinken said, we never come empty- handed.

So, we know that U.S. diplomats will be starting to make their way to Ukraine this week. They'll making day trips in and out of Ukraine, primarily coming to the city where I am in Lviv. We also know that President Biden is expected to nominate a new ambassador to Ukraine. The Ambassador Bridget Brink, who is the current Ambassador to Slovakia. Of course, Ukraine hasn't had an ambassador since 2009.

And importantly on the question of military, financial support, as well. We know that Biden intends to offer that $730 million a package totaling $730 million in addition for military support to Ukraine, as well as 50 allied partners. And in the last few minutes, we have heard from President Zelenskyy, following that meeting with the U.S. top officials from the United States.

I want to read out part of what's President Zelenskyy said.

He said this -- We appreciate the unprecedented assistance of the United States to Ukraine. I would like to thank President Biden and personally and on behalf of the entire Ukrainian people for his leadership in supporting of Ukraine, for his personal, clear position. To think all the American people, as well as Congress for the bicameral and bipartisan support. He said, we see it. We feel it -- Christiane.

Isa, thank you there in Lviv. And of course, Isa will be back with much more ahead on the war in Ukraine. But clearly, Isa, everybody can see the United States is speeding weaponry to Ukraine. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said they wanted to be one step ahead of the changing battlefield. And they have now laid out that they want to help Ukraine with this fight. It's crucial to hear his words. And particularly to raise the pain on Putin, to potentially bring him to some kind of negotiation. Should that, in fact, happen.

So, more now on Emmanuel Macron's victory. Because President Biden has also congratulated that victory, saying that he looks forward to working with President Macron. Continuing on the work they're doing jointly with Europe and the whole transatlantic alliance on Ukraine and, of course, to keep supporting the democracy mission around the world. Let's first bring in senior international correspondent Jim Bittermann on the results from last night. What it means going forward -- Jim.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Exactly, Christiane. In fact, President Biden making his promising to work with Mr. Macron. But the political parties here are not necessarily on the same wave length. Here is the Figaro newspaper this morning says, "great victory, but great challenges." And that's exactly what Mr. Macron's going to face. Here's a little bit more of his speech last night. A little bit more of the Le Pen concession, non-concession that she made.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MACRON (through translator): We have so much to do. And the war in Ukraine is a reminder that we are going through tragic times when France must speak out. Show the clarity of its choices and build its strengthen all areas. And we will do so. We will also need, my friends, to be kind and respectful. Because our countries is full of so many doubts, so many divisions that we will need to be strong. But no one will be left behind.

MARINE LE PEN, FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (through translator): This result constitutes for our French leaders as well as for European leaders, the sign of a great defiance from the French people towards them. Which they can't ignore. And that of a widely shared aspiration for a big change. The French have shown tonight their wish for a counter power that is strong against that of Emmanuel Macron.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BITTERMANN: So, madam Le Pen did not, in fact, congratulate Mr. Macron on his victory. And in fact, did not promise to work with him or anything like that. In fact, she lay down the gauntlet. Said she is going to be challenging him along the line. And in fact, there's kind of an interesting -- one more little headline I want to point out here this morning. In "Le Parisien" this morning they got a poll with Ipsos and it was taken after the victory last night of Mr. Macron.

And basically, there's some interesting statistics on how the French felt afterwards. 20 percent were disappointed.

[04:10:00]

20-point percent were really relieved. 18 percent angry. And another statistic is that 77 percent think that Mr. Macron is going to have trouble in the coming months. So, it's kind of a rocky start to his presidency. We'll see their legislative elections are coming up in June. And we'll see how that all turns out. But in fact, not a lot of promise that things are going to be peaceful and calm here. Christiane.

AMANPOUR: Jim, thank you. And of course, so much at stake. Joining me now here, is Sylvie Bermann. Now she's a veteran French diplomat. She has been ambassador in Russia, in China, in the U.K. and she's joining us now to discuss this election. I guess -- well, your first impressions on what does victory means, his reelection.

SYLVIE BERMANN, FORMER FRENCH DIPLOMAT: Well, I think it's very important, not only for France but also for the world. Because he is a senior leader now and especially now because we are in a war in the middle of Europe. In the fact that it is a clear victory also it's important because it is more than 58 percent.

AMANPOUR: So, when you see senior leader, you are right. He actually does step into the shoes of Angela Merkel who used to be considered the senior European leader. So, he's really kind of at the top of the European pyramid now.

BERMANN: Yes, absolutely. And he's also chairing the European Council for June. So, there's a lot to do.

AMANPOUR: So, Council has the rotating president. BERMANN: Yes, absolutely. He is very pro-European. He made his first

campaign on this basis. And five years after that, again, it's Europe which is in the center of his policy.

AMANPOUR: So, he is also being obviously really strong about -- and you know, with the joint European and U.S. response to Russia's war in Ukraine. I just want to read you this and see what you think. You've been ambassador to Russia. Vladimir Putin congratulated Emmanuel Macron. Now he may have wanted Marine Le Pen to win but he congratulated Emmanuel Macron. According to the Kremlin statement.

He said I sincerely wish you success in your state activities as well as good health and well-being.

President Macron has tried very hard to use his personal diplomacy to end this war. Calling Putin, a lot of times at the beginning. That didn't go great.

BERMANN: No because I think that Putin has already decided to go to war. Unfortunately, in the past he had some success with him. For instance, he met in Bregancon (ph) that was in 2019. And then the result was normal diplomatic meeting on Minsk and I was very encouraging at that time. But after that there was the COVID and Putin was very isolated. And so, I think that it was too late when Emmanuel Macron went to see him. I think he already decided to go to war.

AMANPOUR: So, given the fact, given what we've already seen, and given the fact this war isn't turning out as Putin expected, frankly, as nobody expected. Not even Ukraine's allies expected to be so successful and brave, and committed and courageous on all of that. What happens next? What has to happen? What does Putin need to know in order to come to the negotiating table?

BERMANN: Well, I think that there should be some balance on the ground. Because if he loses everything, I am afraid he would continue the war. So, well of course, what is the most important now is the situation in Donbas. And it's Mariupol, which is not already won, but -- so we'll see at the time if it's possible for Putin to stop this war and to enter into negotiations.

As you know, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he wanted to talk with Putin because you talk with the one who started the war. So, you need negotiations, of course. And Emmanuel Macron would be concerned as well as other members of the security council and other countries. For guaranteeing the neutrality status because Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he is ready --

AMANPOUR: But he needs guarantees --

BERMANN: But he needs strong guarantees --

AMANPOUR: -- of invasion again.

BERMANN: Absolutely.

AMANPOUR: They have said that, you know, this completely changes the European security system that's been basically in effect since the end of the Second World War. Do you agree or can one get back to a prewar situation?

BERMANN: I think it is not possible to go really to a pre-world situation because it's a real game-changer.

[04:15:00]

Because we have been off cyber wars or something like that. But not a conventional war in the middle of Europe, like it was during the Second World War. And so, also, Vladimir Putin, at some point, mentioned nuclear arms and I think we have to seriously discuss all the new stress and the way to react. That's the reason why for us, the EU is very important. Because as you know, Emmanuel Macron wants to strengthen the EU defense and EU autonomy. And it's very important even if we have good relations with the U.S. but sometimes the U.S. might not be interested in --

AMANPOUR: In issues that face you.

BERMANN: The issues that are facing Europe. So, it's important for us to be stronger.

AMANPOUR: Ambassador Sylvie Bermann, thank you so much indeed for joining us.

BERMANN: Thank you very much.

AMANPOUR: So, we have got a lot more news coming up. And we will go ahead with our breaking news coverage of Russia's war in Ukraine. Let's head back to Lviv where Isa Soares is standing by -- Isa.

SOARES: Thanks very much Christiane. And coming up right here in the show -- Russian state media says oil depot is on fire in the bordering Ukraine. We'll have the latest details after she very short break. Do stay right here.

[04:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOARES: And we are tracking news of a Russian attack here in the Lviv region of Ukraine. A local military official says that there's been a missile attack on a railway station. The emergency services working to try and extinguish a fire there, after the explosion, we haven't had information on casualties as of yet. But of course, we'll keep on top of this breaking news as soon as there are any developments, of course, we bring that to you.

But this coming, of course, after a trip by top U.S. officials to Ukraine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, spoke Poland after a trip to Kyiv just a short time ago. They met -- as you can see there -- with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top officials.

Meantime, the Ukrainian military is warning Russian forces when they try to launch a new offensive from the Kherson region in the coming days. And military officials says Russian troops are forming, quote, an offensive strike formation from the Kherson region. As Moscow refocuses its efforts to try and take eastern, as well as southern Ukraine.

Russia is also launching new attacks on the besieged city of Mariupol, where an estimated thousand women, as well as children, are sheltering and a steel plant. It includes 500 or so wounded in that plant. Ukraine's deputy Prime Minister says they're trying to open a humanitarian corridors today after being able to do so on Sunday.

And this new video, this drone video, coming to CNN, shows destruction outside of Kyiv. The town of Horenka as you can see, severely damaged there. Now for more on all of this, let's bring in Oleksiiy Sorokin live in Kyiv. He a political editor and COO of the "Kyiv Independent" newspaper in Ukraine. Oleksiiy, thank you so much for taking time to speak to us this morning. A pretty busy morning. We heard in the last few hours or so, a show of support, I think it's fair to say, from U.S. officials, as well as pledges of more financial and military aid to Ukraine. How important is this, as we see this new offensive by Russia ramping up?

OLEKSIIY SOROKIN, POLITICAL EDITOR AND COO, THE KYIV INDEPENDENT: Obviously, despite all criticism that U.S. officials were getting for not helping Ukraine enough. U.S. is still the biggest supporter of Ukraine, the largest amount of weapons, of finances, are coming from the U.S. So, this is very important for Ukraine to continue the cooperation with the States. Obviously, the visit by Blinken and Austin was meant to increase the military support in the wake of the battle of Donbas, which is already ongoing and where Ukraine needs much support, primarily from the United States.

SOARES: And just to explain, Oleksiiy, why the U.S. was being criticized. Given that it's been the biggest supporter of President Zelenskyy here, and not just Zelenskyy but also on the ground.

SOROKIN: Well, obviously, Ukraine needs more. Ukraine needs an embargo on Russian energy. Ukraine needs more arms. Ukraine needs financial help. And during the early stages of the war, when many Western officials thought that Ukraine would fall in a matter of days, the support was pretty slow. And many in Ukraine thought that the U.S., basically, give up on Ukraine. But then, U.S. obviously bolstered its support, increased military spending on Ukraine. And now, we don't see any criticism in Ukraine concerning the U.S.

SOARES: Yes, and we've seen that support being announced, again, in the last few hours. We heard also from Secretary Austin, who said that he believes -- that the U.S. believes that Ukraine could win the war. And really, Secretary Blinken said that Russia is losing the war. Is this a morale boost, would you say, to Ukrainian soldiers right across the country?

SOROKIN: Obviously, it's a morale boost. Obviously, Ukrainian officials, Western officials, saying that Ukraine is winning is helping the Ukrainian army to hold on. Obviously, this is not exactly true, I would say. But it's very important that the world backs Ukraine. And that the Ukrainian soldiers feel the support from their leadership and from international players.

SOARES: OK. On that, Oleksiiy, what's not true? That you don't believe that Ukraine is winning?

SOROKIN: Well, it's hard to say that our country is winning when foreign troops are on the offensive. Right?

[04:25:00]

If Ukraine succeeds in repelling Russian attacks on Donbas, if Ukraine succeeds in defending center of Donetsk, in Luhansk and the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in Donetsk. All this then we can say that probably Ukraine will either be on the offensive or is winning, diplomatically, politically, right? But right now, when Russia is still on the offense. When Ukrainian cities are shelled, when multiple Ukrainian regional capitals are under fire, it's hard to say that Ukraine is actually winning this war.

SOARES: And one act that we've seen of absolute bravery and defiance, is in Mariupol. Where we have so many soldiers, Ukrainian soldiers, as well as civilians, really hold up inside the Azovstal steel plant. On Mariupol, on the evacuation, we are expecting obviously, hoping for an evacuation corridor and that hasn't happened. I mean, the situation there is increasingly dire. What more can you tell us?

SOROKIN: Well, I think that Russia will not allow any sort of humanitarian corridors because Russia wants blood. Obviously, Ukraine proposed to evacuate civilians and soldiers, basically giving up the city. So, Russia would get the strategic city and save the lives of their own soldiers and Russia said no. There is absolutely no idea why they said no. This doesn't make sense. But Russia continues to attack this plant. Continues to throw more arms, to bomb it. And I think that, unfortunately, Ukraine doesn't have the capacity to either break siege or to save those people. But Ukrainian leadership is definitely trying to evacuate those people and I hope that they will actually succeed.

SOARES: And yes, I mean, it's incredibly dire, what's happening right now. Just for viewers to get a sense. So many of those children have been seen daylight for what -- 50 plus days. And what that is doing, of course, to their health. Thank you very much, Oleksiiy Sorokin. Thank you very much for your perspective. We really appreciate it.

Meanwhile, Russian state media says a fire has broken out at an oil depot in the Bryansk region. Rescue teams are at the scene. But the cause of the fire is still unclear. For more on this, let's bring in Clare Sebastian in London. And Clare, what more can you tell us about this kind of large fire in Bryansk?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Isa, I can tell you that according to Russian state media, the first reports came in about 2 a.m. Moscow time that's about nine hours ago. Now emergency services were said to be heading to the scene. The location is important, Bryansk the region is about 100 miles, or even less from the Ukrainian border near the regions of Chernihiv and Sumy in Ukraine. So, very close to the conflict there. There's been no immediate reports of any casualties. No explanations as to the cause.

But it is confirmed by the local emergency ministry, according to Russian state media. -- State news agency TASS -- as having hit the fuel tanks there. So, clearly, we're looking at a potentially very large fire. But now, Russian investigative committee, which is sort of a top federal investigative unit in Russia. They are said to be launching investigation. They've been ordered to do so by the head of the investigative committee that they should launch a criminal investigation here. So, then a significant there apparently sending a team to the scene, forensic experts, and investigators.

Again, I want to point out the location. Because it was here, in the middle of April, that Russia was said it was investigating what it believed was a strike by Ukrainian helicopters on a town in the Bryansk region. And in another region near the border of Ukraine, Belgorod, they said that they have accused -- Russia has accused Ukraine of attacking another fuel depot. So, we don't know what's the cause of this was. We don't know much more than that. But there are all parallels in terms of what we've seen in the accusations we've seen from Russia over the past few weeks.

SOARES: And Clare, what we have seen in the last hour or so from U.S. officials is that more military assistance coming Ukraine's way. How is this being received by Moscow? I mean, is it rattling any feathers?

SEBASTIAN: So, what I can tell you, Isa, is that there's clearly a lot of displeasure among -- in Russia about the degree to which U.S. and other allies are arming Ukraine. There's an interview today by the Russian 24 TV channel. With the Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov, he -- the full interview hasn't actually been played yet. But he said that he called it the 800 million figure, which is the latest package of weapons that the U.S. is sending to Ukraine. He called that huge. He said that doesn't help in the quest for a diplomatic solution. And he said that a note of protests has being sent to Washington by the presumably the Russian embassy in Washington protesting against the arming of Ukraine. What he calls pumping Ukraine full of weapons, very emotive language there.

So, look, we know from military analysts that Russia is stretched quite thin in this latest offensive against the Donbas.

[04:30:00]